Retractable guard for infant{3 s table

ABSTRACT

To prevent infants from falling off the front edge of a dressing table a U-shaped guard is provided. The base of the U extends along the front edge and the sides extend rearwardly about halfway along the side edges of the table. The inner ends of the sides are pivoted to the upstanding sides of the table top. Where no sides are provided as original table structure, sides may be clamped thereto and the sides of the guard pivoted to such sides. To reduce the effort required to reach the infant or lift him from the table, the guard pivots upward, out of the way.

United States Patent Inventor Mary J. Sargent 205 Margarita Drive, San Rafael, Calif. 94901 Appl. No. 21,920

Filed Mar. 23, 1970 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 RETRACTABLE GUARD FOR INFANT S TABLE 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Bobby R, Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attorney.lulian Caplan ABSTRACT: To prevent infants from falling off the front edge of a dressing table a U-shaped guard is provided. The base of the U extends along the front edge and the sides extend rearwardly about halfway along the side edges of the table. The inner ends of the sides are pivoted to the upstanding sides of the table top. Where no sides are provided as original table structure, sides may be clamped thereto and the sides of the guard pivoted to such sides. To reduce the effort required to reach the infant or lift him from the table, the guard pivots upward, out of the way.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 2 Sheets-Shut 1 FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

. 3 INVENTOR.

MARYJ SARGE/VT 26 lllllllllllll l llll/[l/l/l/l ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1911 V 2 Shuts-Shoot 3 FIG. 5.

INVENT OR. MARY J SARGENT ATTORNEY RETRACTABLE GUARD FOR INFANTS TABLE This invention relates to a new and improved retractable guard for infants table and comprises an improvement of US. Pat. No. 3,034,153 issued May 15, 1962 on infant table.

Infant's tables ordinarily have a back and sides extending above the level of the table top but ordinarily the front edge of the table is unprotected. The reason for not enclosing the front edge of the table top is that a permanent closure makes it difficult for the mother to dress the infant or to lift the infant from the table. Furthermore, a completely enclosed top makes cleaning more difficult. Nevertheless, the open front edge makes it possible for the infant to roll or crawl off the table top while the mothers attention is diverted. The present invention provides a means for reducing such hazard. 1 g

In my aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,034,153 a means for accomplishing the result above set forth is illustrated and described.

The front guard was shown pivoted along an axis'at the front edge of the table top to move between an upstanding vertical position and a downward vertical position; In accordance with the present invention, the front guard is provided with rearward extending sides which are pivoted to the sides of the table at points about halfway between the front and rear edges of the table top. Considerable greater convenience in moving the guard from operative to inoperative position results in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

In my aforesaid patent, I illustrated a collapsible table of a type in common use. However, increasingly infants dressing tables have been of a noncollapsible type, frequently comprising the top of a chest in which clothes may be stored. The guard of the present invention is particularly suitable for such noncollapsible dressers and tables. In some instances, equipment of this type is not provided with permanent back and side rails. The present invention provides separable back and side rails which may be clamped to the table top in semipermanent fashion, and the guard is pivoted to the side rail.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means which prevent the guard from accidentally falling from inoperative position and injuring the arms or legs of an infant which are dangling from the, top of the table.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that it makes unnecessary the use of the various straps and ties which are frequently provided on dressing tables, the use of which is so time consuming that mothers frequently neglect to provide for the safety of the infant. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible table in which one form of the invention is installed.

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG.- 1 of a modification.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a further modification.

As has been stated, the form of table 11 with which the present invention may be used is subject to considerable variation. A common collapsible type table is shown in FIG. 1, although a more permanent type is shown in FIG. 6. There are many bathinettes having canvas or fiber tops as well as dressing tables and dressers with which the present invention may be used. In the form shown in FIG. 1, the top 12 is provided with a permanent back rail 13 and permanent side rails 14 which extend to the front edge of top 12. Legs 16 which are crossed and pivots 17 support top 12 and may be provided with casters or wheels 18.

The guard 21 of the present invention is essentially U- shaped. The base 22 of the guard extends along the front edge of the table when it is in operative position and has rearward extending sides 23 which extend part way toward the back edge of the top 12. Approximately halfway between the front of back ends of sides 14are pivots 24 which pivotally connect the sides 23 with the sides 14. As shown in FIG. 3, a spring 26 of various forms may be used in the pivot structure to prevent the guard 21 from accidentally falling to operative position and injuring the limbs of an infant which may extend over the side edge of the table.

In the use of the device, FIG. 1 shows the operative position. Base 22 closes off the front edge of the table and prevents the infant from falling over the front edge while the mother's attention is diverted. When it is necessary to dress the infant or to lift the infant onto or off the table, the guard 21 is swung upward about pivots 24 to a vertical position or at least to a partially lifted position. When the guard 21 is released,'spring 26 or other counterbalancing means prevents gravity from causing the guard to fall with'such force as would otherwise injure the infant.

As has been stated, the form of the tableshown in FIG. 1 is collapsible. It is a feature of the present invention that the use of guard 21 does not prevent the table from being collapsed and stored in normal fashion.

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 4 also shows a collapsible table 110. In this form of the invention, the front cornets of sides 14a are formed with notches 31. The guard 21a is made of tubing bent in U-shape. The base 32 fits into the notch 32 which supports base 32 above the level of top 12a, serving as a latch. The sides 33 extend along the top edges of sides 14a and have inward bent ends which provide pivots as they pass through holes in said sides 140. In many respects the structure of FIGS. 4 and 5 is similar to that of the preceding modification and the same reference numerals followed by the subscript a" are used to designate corresponding elements.

FIG. 6 illustrates a permanent table 11b, it being understood that the structure of such table is subject to very wide modification. Although such perrnanen t'table frequently is provided with permanent back and side rails, to illustrate the versatility of the present invention it is assumed that the manufacturer of the table has not provided permanent back and side rails. In accordance with the present invention, a structure consisting of a back rail 13b joined to side rails 14b is fixed to a clamp 36 similar to a C-clamp which clamps to the table top 12b or some other convenient portion of the table 11b. A guard 21b which may be similar either to the guard 21 of FIG. 1 or 210 of FIG. 4 may be pivoted by means of pivot 24b to the sides 14b. In other respects the structure of FIG. 6 is similar to that of the preceding modifications and the same reference numerals fol-' lowed by subscript b are used to designate corresponding parts.

It will be understood that screws, bolts or other means may be used to secure the sides to the table top.

What I claim is: j

1. In an infants table, a top, support means for said top, a back rail projecting above the back edge of said top, side rails projecting above the side edges of said top, and a retractable guard, said guard approximately U-shaped having a baseportion extending, in operative position, along the front edge of said top and sides extending rearward in proximity to said side rails, and pivot means pivoting the ends of said sides to said side rails, whereby said guide maybe pivoted upward to inoperative position with said base elevated substantially above said' top.

2. A table according to claim 1 in which said pivot means are located approximately midway between the front and back of said top.

3. A table according to claim 1 which further comprises counterbalancing means to snub the elevated to operative position.

4. A table according to claim 1 in which said base and sides are approximately the height of said rails. I

5. A table according to claim 1 in which said guard is formed of bent tubing. i

fall of said guide from prises means attaching said rail relative to said top. 8. A table according to claim 1 in which said support means are collapsible, said guard remaining in operative position relative to said top when said support means are collapsed. 

1. In an infant''s table, a top, support means for said top, a back rail projecting above the back edge of said top, side rails projecting above the side edges of said top, and a retractable guard, said guard approximately U-shaped having a base portion extending, in operative position, along the front edge of said top and sides extending rearward in proximity to said side rails, and pivot means pivoting the ends of said sides to said side rails, whereby said guide may be pivoted upward to inoperative position with said base elevated substantially above said top.
 2. A table according to claim 1 in which said pivot means are located approximately midway between the front and back of said top.
 3. A table according to claim 1 which further comprises counterbalancing means to snub the fall of said guide from elevated to operative position.
 4. A table according to claim 1 in which said base and sides are approximately the height of said rails.
 5. A table according to claim 1 in which said guard is formed of bent tubing.
 6. A table according to claim 1 in which the front ends of said side rails are formed with notches, said guard fitting in said notches when in operative position and being latched by said notches in operative position.
 7. A table according to claim 1 in which at least one said side rail is separable from said top and which further comprises means attaching said rail relative to said top.
 8. A table according to claim 1 in which said support means are collapsible, said guard remaining in operative position relative to said top when said support means are collapsed. 